LUND - Rome of the North

LUND - Academics, History, Design and Science

The University of Lund, founded in 1666, has eight faculties.

Lund has an active scientific role also in the entire region of Öresund.

When Mrs T and I was studying in native Finland we had a certain interest towards Skåne or southern Sweden. The area was tempting to us and we considered moving there. I remember applying for jobs at Tarkett and Mölnlycke at that time. It took us 30 years to get here, but here we are....now visiting the City of LUND for the first time as we had some business to attend to there.  An excellent opportunity to combine obligations with pleasure. After a vivid discussion whether to take the train or go by car the "pretend-to-be-four-wheel-drive KIA" was chosen. The train however is an excellent alternative with a frequent, fast and inexpensive journey starting from Hässleholm. Next time, darling! My plan was, while Mrs. T was on her duties, to visit the City Park and then return to the city center in about an hour. Mrs. T waited for long to see the exhibition of Mrs. Gudrun Sjödén who is designing and producing colorful clothes and textiles for the home. Secondly we wanted to explore KULTUREN, the open-air museum and visit the Cathedral.

For the sake of curiosity an old Map of Lund (source Wikimedia Common).

We left early in the morning (means nine o'clock to us) and arrived on time to Lund that seemed quiet with all 40.000 students gone. We passed Ideon Science Park that hosts 350 companies and employes 2700 people. The University of Lund has an active role in this Science Park but also contributes with its strong research towards Medicon Valley. And while I am on it, the University has a stake in a holding company LU Bio, too. This started as a joint venture with private investors that wanted to support  research spin-offs within Life Sciences. This kind of operations have been rather successful in Sweden and, thus, gives reason for admiration. But that's it on Academics and Science.

The City Park

The park on a hot-hot-hot summer day!

Also the park seemed quiet this morning. It is sizable and no doubt popular for jogging. Mrs. T asked if that's me in the hammock but no, that's not me this time. I would not have known how to get into one of those and probably found myself grounded in a horisontal position if I did try. Colour of the water? The light playing its tricks!

Gudrun Sjödén at KULTUREN

Reading her website turns me on. In 35 years she has created a global business with an annual turnover of SEK 0,5 billion with her own shops in both Europe and the US. She has gained royal recognition and many other awards during her career. Her thoughts on clothing design are outstanding. In its simplicity it is about natural material and sustainable Nordic design language. If you look under the surface she uses words like: colorful strips, no seasonal dependance, functional and unique without a sense of time, suitable for all ages and figures....and so on!!!! AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE - nothing else.

Mrs T getting ready for the tour of Sjödéns exhibition.

Observant and appreciative for the meeting with Sjödéns design.

KULTUREN Open-Air Museum

The Association of Cultural History for Southern Sweden.

Some of the houses are brought from other parts of Sweden. Top pictures: a nobleman's house.

The open-air museum of Kulturen is right in the middle of Lund and displays the old division of the past society into four estates: nobles, clergy, burghers and peasants. Inside the buildings collections of cultural history, art, crafts and design form several exhibitions from local culture to world culture or medieval times to modern ages. The urban settings cover buildings from the middle ages to the twentieth century and the rural buildings are from the 17th to the 20th century.

This wooden church is from Boseby and dated to 1652. The vicarage, bottom right, is of 18th century origin (V Vram).

A professor's home from mid 19th century (grey house on the left).

The Cathedral of Lund

Lund was a religious centre during the middle ages and a spiritual capital for Denmark who ruled over Scania until 1658. Lund was then called Metropolis Daniae and Rome of the North.  King Canute (the Holy) started to build a bishop's church in 1080 and the Cathedral of Lund we today see is described as the "finest example of Romanesque architecture in Scandinavia" and it is made of sandstone.  

Inside the Cathedral of Lund.

The pulpit (left) is from 1592 and the altarpiece from 1398. The astronomical clock in the church is from 15th century and  it is still operational.

The Cathedral of Lund (pictured in HDR)

Returning Home via Bosjökloster

The day in Lund gave us the chance to learn directions and distances and to visit some of the key sights. We knew to expect to meet a historical and academic city and it was nice to see it all in real time. This was the first visit but surely not the last.

Before leaving the city we had a break in a nearby coffee shop. Coffee and ice-cream for Mrs. T and a SMOOOTHIE and ice-cream for me, because I felt I needed something cool on a hot day. We had our ice-creams. They where OK - I think!? BUT MY SMOOOTHIE WAS NOT!  Wonder if it was made of sour milk or yoghurt or something similar? I forced  this drink down while Mrs. T was purchasing a pair of red Capris - (Does this mean that she is totally "royalized" now?)

Bosjö Abbey and its 1000 year old Oak tree and herbal gardens.

We have described Bosjö Abbey in another Blog Post. A perfect place for a walk with a picnic perhaps. They have a great sculptural exhibition this summer and the classical concerts are starting in August. Nicely located by Ringsjön with a lovely garden.

Hope you liked the visit to ancient Lund - we did! 

Have a sunny an warm week-end all of you!

:-)